Did the Migration already happen?

[bjgough]

I’ve been hunting 10-20 times this year, split equally between E and W halves of the state... and every time I make the haul out to Moses Lake, I see nothing.

I wish I could ask why my blind set up or decoy spread were not attracting all the ducks flying overhead...

But, there aren’t any. Sure there are a few teal pairs that buzz by, but the Wave after Wave of mallards isn’t happening.

The skies are clear. Have they just not migrated yet? Or did I miss it?

[vandeman17]

Was out yesterday and saw a ton of teals. They have generally come and gone by now which leads me to believe the mallards are soon to follow.

[elkboy]

 I am not a waterfowl hunter, but I do notice great big rafts of them. Over here in southeast WA, there are some pretty big waves of mallards and Canada geese moving through. I went out for a run with the dog yesterday along the South Fork of the Palouse. Saw hundreds of mallards and geese n the sky and on the river. Good luck to you- hope you start seeing the same over where you are.

[cougforester]

I’m having my best season in a long time on the west side. Mallards and puns are in thick.

[bjgough]

Was out yesterday and saw a ton of teals. They have generally come and gone by now which leads me to believe the mallards are soon to follow.

Thanks! East or West?

[bjgough]

I’ve been up on Snohomish, Skagit, and Whatcom county public lands, seen some birds but not the numbers from last year.
East side, Winchester Wasteway has been a mallard ghost town. This time last year I couldnt even count the flocks there were so many. Now, I don’t see flocks moving, just small geouos of what I presume to be local birds.

[vandeman17]

Was out yesterday and saw a ton of teals. They have generally come and gone by now which leads me to believe the mallards are soon to follow.

Thanks! East or West?

East

[gasman]

Was on potholes last week, didn't even raise my gun on Sat.
Hunted above Vantage on Sunday, got 1 man limit for 3 guys.

This weekend, hunted above Vantage again, and the air d screwed things up for us on Sat. Scouted Priest Rapids in the afternoon and found some spots to hunt.
Was 2 min late to a spot we wanted to hunt Sunday, and moved to plan B. Didn't have a B, so we winged it. Set up on the wrong side of the river and ended up with 1 limit for 3 guys again 

But when scouting, we seen tons of birds, and geese all up and down the river, but mostly rafted up and geese hanging out on the shore line?
Then read an article  from DU that claims the  migration is just starting 

 Not sure  what were doing next weekend. We have seen tons of birds the last few weeks but none came to calls,  once daylight hit, didn't like our spread..... 

[Guzman]

The birds have migrated down. I don’t foresee seeing any more ducks coming from the north. With the cold weather some of the migration is even south of moses lake. If it warms up you will see a migration from the south.

The weather has been so constant in eastern Washington. We haven’t seen a lot of big weather patterns come through. When it gets like this the birds find where it is safe and stay there. They stay on the reserves all day and don’t go out to feed until well after dark.

Every year there are more and more ducks that sit on private areas. Corn ponds have changed migrations.

The wasteways will most likely never be what they were 20 years ago. They continue to over grow with Russian olives, and fragmeitties. The quality of those areas continue to degrade as they over grow.

[h2ofowlr]

We still have a fair amount of birds to the north of us along with a pile up in the Fraser Valley in BC.  I think the early cooling and snow we saw Nov. 1st, had a big push of birds that by passed us.  We saw another big push about 3 weeks ago.  Big concentration of mallards in Snohomish Valley right now.  The big clubs have been shooting them up pretty good.  Still seeing lots of birds in the Skagit, Whatcom area.  We just need some wind to get them moving.  They seem to be sitting everywhere and not a lot of flying.  Last Thursday and Friday, their were lots of birds in the air and many hunters did very well.

[cougforester]

This weekend ought to be good. Actually have some weather moving in on the west side.

[Duckgtr]

We shot 1 cackler and 4 ducks (1 mallard, 1 ringneck, 2 mergs) last Saturday at my lease near elma and I shot 1 cackler and 7 ducks (3 mallards, 2 widgeon, 2 teal) on sunday on a public field by 11 on sunday. Shouldve limited out sooner and had 2 more geese but I was shooting like crap. Only shot a box though

[Badhabit]

I saw a lot of geese flying near Patterson yesterday around 9. Amazing how the sky moves with so many geese flying. Got a report today that there are birds in the Potholes area but with no wind and weather they are on a time clock for leaving and returning to the refuges. Guys that are shooting ducks over water are using huge spreads  12 dozen plus.

[eastsidemallard74]

Wads and wads of birds in the basin area. Saw several wads out hunting a field last week. Mega wads of ducks, and bird watching the geese by the thousands, just not on my field....

[Cannakoi]

This was my first year out, and I mostly hunted out near elma as well. Always saw a fair amount of birds but mostly on private or way to high for shots, next year will hopefully be better scouted and planned. Good luck to you in the spring goose season sir.